Country-by-Country Market: the complete community guide
Ricardo Lemos · 2026-10-07
Complete country-by-country market guide — everything you need to know before spending your first dollar
Table of contents
1. italy with COD
2. poland
3. spain
4. Portugal
5. hungary, romania, czechia and slovakia
6. germany and austria
7. brazil
8. united states
9. LATAM: mexico and colombia
1. italy with COD
The COD (Cash on Delivery) payment model is popular in Italy, but it has a few specific considerations:
- Carriers: The main ones are DHL, SDA and UPS. Each has its own rates and delivery times.
- Delivery fee: On average, it ranges from 5 to 10 euros, depending on the region.
- Delivery confirmation: Italians expect to be contacted in advance, usually by phone, to confirm delivery.
- Consumer expectations: Customers value clear communication and attentive customer service.
2. poland
Polish e-commerce stands out for a few specific features:
- InPost and Paczkomaty: Innovative delivery systems where customers pick up their orders from lockers.
- BLIK: A popular payment method that allows quick transactions via smartphone.
- Consumer profile: The Poles who shop online the most tend to be young, between 18 and 34, with high internet penetration.
3. spain
The Spanish market has significant regional differences:
- Carriers: Correos, SEUR and GLS are the main ones.
- Regional differences: Madrid has a higher purchase volume, while buying behavior is more conservative in Andalusia and the islands.
- Delivery fees: Generally between 4 and 8 euros, depending on the carrier and location.
4. Portugal
The Portuguese market is small, but offers opportunities:
- Low CPM: An average of 3 to 5 euros, making ad spend more accessible.
- Scaling ceiling: Keep in mind that purchase volume isn’t very high, which limits scalability.
5. hungary, romania, czechia and slovakia
These countries make an interesting COD cluster:
- COD popularity: High acceptance, with delivery fees ranging from 3 to 7 euros.
- Shopping culture: Consumers tend to trust cash on delivery more, especially in rural areas.
6. germany and austria
COD is almost nonexistent in these countries:
- Why: High credit card penetration and a culture of paying upfront.
- Strategy: Focus on secure and efficient online payment options.
7. brazil
Brazil presents a complex landscape:
- Payment methods: Pix and boleto are popular, and Correios is the main carrier.
- Taxes: Watch out for taxes that can impact your profit margin, especially on imports.
8. united states
The U.S. has a robust market, but also comes with challenges:
- Credit cards: The dominant payment method, with average order values ranging from 50 to 200 dollars.
- Compliance: You need to comply with regulations to avoid ad account bans.
9. LATAM: mexico and colombia
The COD landscape in LATAM:
- Carriers: The market is dominated by Correos and other regional carriers, with delivery fees around 5 to 10 dollars.
- Challenges: High return rates and the need to adapt to local preferences.
Country expansion order
To reduce risks and translation costs, consider following this sequence:
- Brazil
- Portugal
- Spain
- Poland
- Germany
- Italy
- Hungary
- Romania
- U.S.
Final checklist
- Research local carriers and their rates.
- Check delivery fees and times in each country.
- Understand consumer profiles and their preferences.
- Assess the predominant payment culture.
- Stay up to date on local regulations.
- Test different payment methods.
- Be prepared to handle taxes.
- Use tools like FreeSpy to analyze the competition.
- Plan logistics in advance.
- Monitor performance and adjust your strategies as needed.
Which country are you most interested in exploring, and what’s your investment goal?